Laparoscopic Appendectomy is Feasible for Inexperienced Surgeons in the Early Days of Individual Laparoscopic Training Courses

PURPOSE: Recently, laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) has been widely performed in developed countries. In addition, minimally invasive surgery such as LA is a challenge to surgical residents. The aim of this study is to evaluate learning curve of residents in comparison to that of experienced surgeons. METHODS: Fifty cases of LA that were performed by experienced surgeons (group A) and forty-seven cases of LA that were performed by 8 residents (group B) were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Operative time was longer in group B (50.8+/-12 vs. 82.8+/-40 min. P<0.001). Hospital days of group B was shorter (4.8+/-2.4 vs. 3.7+/-2.1 days P=0.021). No other parameters were statistically significant. In group A, wound infection developed in 1 case. In group B, wound infection developed in 4 cases, intraabdominal abscess in 1, subcutaneous emphysema in 1. CONCLUSION: Inexperienced surgeons can perform laparoscopic appendectomy easily in the early days of individual laparoscopic training course.

A Study on the Chemosensitivity of Advanced Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: Despite the reduced incidence and mortality of gastric cancer, this illness still remains the second leading cause of cancer death in Korea. Various adjuvant chemotherapies have been proposed for patients with advanced gastric cancer. Randomized trials comparing chemotherapies with best supportive care have consistently shown that cytotoxic treatment is of some benefit. Nevertheless, there has been no major improvement in the overall prognosis of advanced gastric cancer. METHODS: We have examined the chemotherapy sensitivity of advanced gastric cancer specimens by using an ex vivo ATP based chemosensitivity assay (ATP-TCA). A variety of chemotherapeutic agents were tested. The one hundred and forty specimens we tested were from resection specimens. RESULTS: The histological tumor classification, lymphatic invasion, neural invasion and venous invasion affected the chemosensitivity of some drugs. 5-FU was a more potent drug than cisplatin, doxorubicin, iriontecan and methotrexate. The chemosensitivity of differentiated cancer was different compared to that of undifferentiated cancer. Doxorubicin and iriontecan were more effective in poorly differentiated, signet ring cell and diffuse type cancers. The manner of tumor invasion affected the chemosensitivity to some drugs. CONCLUSISON: Further study is necessary to assess the effectiveness of some chemotherapy drugs on advanced gastric cancer, including their effect on tumor recurrence and patient survival.

Gallstone Perforation of the Ileum Found during an Operation for CBD Malignancy

Gallstone is a common disease with a prevalence of about 10%, but biliary ileus is a rare entity with a frequency of about 1% for all the symptomatic patients. We are reporting on a case of perforated terminal ileum that was due to gallstone, and this was without any associated intestinal obstruction or bilioenteric fistula. A 76 year old man presented with a history of jaundice and dark colored urine for a 3-month duration with no clinical features of intestinal obstruction. There was no past history of biliary tract disease. The abdominal radiograph demonstrated no biliary stones or classical findings of gallstone ileus, but there was a suspicion of cholangiocarcinoma. Laparotomy was performed. A perforation of terminal ileum was identified in the mesenteric border of the terminal ileum and adjacent to ileocecal valve, and it was wrapped by omentum. A small 1.5 cm sized stone was impacted in the mesentery at the site of the perforation. The perforation site was closed. Cholecystectomy and proximal common bile duct resection with Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy was then performed.

Licorice Induced Hypokalemia / 대한신장학회잡지

A high intake of licorice can cause hypermineralocorticoidism with sodium retention and potassium loss, edema, increased blood pressure and depression of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Glycyrrhizic acid, a component of licorice, produces hypermineralocorticoidism through the inhibition of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. We report a 55-year-old woman with severe muscle weakness with hypokalemia(Serum K+ : 1.7 mEq/ L) due to raw licorice tea. She boiled the licorice 50 g in water and drunk intermittently for 4 months due to her foreign body sensation on her throat. In Korea there is a traditional recipe that licorice works out for the above symptom. Her serum renin activity and aldosterone level were far beyond normal range which was typical to licorice ingestion. She also had metabolic alkalosis with pH 7.55 and hypertension. After quitting the licorice, hypokalemia and muscle weakness gradually improved and her blood pressure returned to normal.